1 Corinthians 8 - Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Food Offered to Idols

8 About food offered to idols:(A) We know that “we all have knowledge.”[a] Knowledge inflates with pride,(B) but love(C) builds up. 2 If anyone thinks he knows anything, he does not yet know it as he ought to know it.(D) 3 But if anyone loves God,(E) he is known(F) by Him.

4 About eating food offered to idols, then, we know that “an idol is nothing in the world,” and that “there is no God but one.”(G) 5 For even if there are so-called gods,(H) whether in heaven or on earth—as there are many “gods” and many “lords”—

6 yet for us there is one God, the Father.(I)
All things are from Him,(J)
and we exist for Him.
And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ.
All things are through Him,
and we exist through Him.(K)

7 However, not everyone has this knowledge. In fact, some have been so used to idolatry up until now that when they eat food offered to an idol, their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 Food will not make us acceptable to God. We are not inferior if we don’t eat, and we are not better if we do eat.(L) 9 But be careful that this right of yours in no way becomes a stumbling block(M) to the weak. 10 For if someone sees you, the one who has this knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, won’t his weak conscience be encouraged to eat food offered to idols? 11 Then the weak person, the brother for whom Christ died,(N) is ruined[b](O) by your knowledge.(P) 12 Now when you sin like this against the brothers and wound their weak conscience, you are sinning against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food causes my brother to fall, I will never again eat meat,(Q) so that I won’t cause my brother to fall.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 8:1 See note at 1Co 6:12-13.
  2. 1 Corinthians 8:11 Or destroyed

Cross references

  1. 8:1 : Ac 15:29; 21:25; 1Co 10:19; Rv 2:14, 20
  2. 8:1 : 1Co 4:6
  3. 8:1 : 1Co 13:1-13
  4. 8:2 : 1Co 3:18; 13:8-12; 1Tm 6:4
  5. 8:3 : Dt 6:5; Lk 10:27
  6. 8:3 : Pr 2:6
  7. 8:4 : Dt 6:4
  8. 8:5 : 2Th 2:4
  9. 8:6 : Mt 5:16; 11:27; Lk 11:13; Jn 8:42; Eph 5:20
  10. 8:6 : Ps 104:24; Col 1:16; Rv 3:14
  11. 8:6 : Jn 1:3
  12. 8:8 : Rm 14:17
  13. 8:9 : Ex 23:33; Rm 14:20
  14. 8:11 : Jn 11:51; Rm 5:6, 8; 8:34; 14:9, 15; 1Co 15:3; Gl 2:21; Eph 5:2; 1Th 5:10
  15. 8:11 : Heb 6:8
  16. 8:11 : Mt 25:45
  17. 8:13 : Dt 12:15

You Might Also Like:

1 Corinthians 8 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

8 And concerning the things sacrificed to idols, we have known that we all have knowledge: knowledge puffeth up, but love buildeth up; 2 and if any one doth think to know anything, he hath not yet known anything according as it behoveth [him] to know; 3 and if any one doth love God, this one hath be...
Read More

1 Corinthians 8 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

8 But of these things that be sacrificed to idols, we know, for all we have knowing. But knowing bloweth, charity edifieth [Soothly science, or knowing, in-bloweth with pride, charity edifieth]. 2 But if any man guesseth [Forsooth if any man guess, or deem], that he knoweth any thing, he hath not y...
Read More

1 Corinthians 8 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

8 Now here is what I say about food given to idols. We all know something about this matter. Yet knowledge makes us proud. Love is the real teacher. 2 If anyone thinks he knows much, then he does not know what he really should know. 3 But if anyone loves God, then God knows him. 4 So here is what I ...
Read More

1 Corinthians 8 - World English Bible (WEB)

8 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 But if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he doesn’t yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, the same is known by him. 4 Therefore concerning the eating o...
Read More

1 Corinthians 8 - The Voice (VOICE)

8 As to the concern of eating food dedicated to idols: we know that all of us have knowledge, but knowledge can be risky. Knowledge promotes overconfidence and worse arrogance, but charity of the heart (love, that is) looks to build up others. 2 Just because a person presumes to have some bit of kn...
Read More

1 Corinthians 8 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Concerning Idol Sacrifices8 Now concerning idol sacrifices, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If anyone thinks he knows anything, he doesn’t yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by Him. 4 Therefore concerning the eating of...
Read More

1 Corinthians 8 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Food Offered to Idols8 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” “Knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 2 If any one imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But if one loves God, one is known by him. 4 Hence, as to th...
Read More

1 Corinthians 8 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

8 And concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2 Now, if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by Him. 4 Therefore, concerning the eating of things...
Read More

1 Corinthians 8 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

Meat Offered to Idols8 Now when it comes to meat offered to idols, we know that ‘We all have knowledge’. Knowledge puffs you up, but love builds you up! 2 If anybody thinks they ‘know’ something, they don’t yet ‘know’ in the way they ought to know. 3 But if anybody loves God, they are ‘known’ – by...
Read More

1 Corinthians 8 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Food Offered to Idols8 Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.(A)2 Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge,(B)3 but anyone who loves God is known by him.(C)4 Hence, as to the ea...
Read More

1 Corinthians 8 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

He rebukes those who use their freedom to the detriment of others, and shows how people ought to behave towards the weak. 8 Now to speak of things dedicated to idols. We are sure that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes a man swell, but love edifies. 2 If anyone thinks he knows anything, he know...
Read More

1 Corinthians 8 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Food Sacrificed to Idols8 Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. 2 Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really...
Read More

1 Corinthians 8 - New Life Version (NLV)

Food Given to False Gods8 I want to write about food that has been given as a gift in worship to a false god. We all know something about it. Knowing about it makes one feel important. But love makes one strong. 2 The person who thinks he knows all the answers still has a lot to learn. 3 But if he...
Read More

1 Corinthians 8 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Be Sensitive to Conscience8 Now (A)concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have (B)knowledge. (C)Knowledge [a]puffs up, but love [b]edifies. 2 And (D)if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if anyone loves God, this one is known by H...
Read More